COMMUNITY MINISTRIES
Saint Markans are a
socially aware and committed bunch. A recent survey showed that over
90% of us voted in the last presidential election. Members include
people who at some time in their lives have been union negotiators,
school board members, scout leaders, volunteers in the St Louis city
schools and much else. So it should not be surprising that we are
engaged in the life of the larger community in a variety of ways.
St Mark's
participates in the St Louis Hills Ecumenical Alliance which offers
ecumenical worship several times a year and provides a forum for
religious leaders to reflect on local issues.
We serve meals
as part of the feeding program at Trinity Episcopal Church in the
Central West End, taking our turn in a rota which includes a number of
other Episcopal congregations.
We reach out to the
residents of the St Louis City Juvenile Detention Center through the
ministry of Episcopal City Mission (www.ecitymission.org),
visiting with them twice a year for the monthly birthday parties and
supporting the work of the ECM chaplains.
We work through various contacts to support the St. Louis Public Schools. Recently, we raised money for coats for homeless and needy students. Above left, you can see Dr. Kelvin Adams, Superintendent of Schools, accepting a check from Deacon Marylen Stanbery for coats.
We partner with
parishioners from St Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church to bring some
joy to the lives of resident of the Loving Care Home, mostly mentally
ill adults or seniors in medical assistance, many of them far from
home, by holding occasional parties and collecting small gifts like
toiletries and stationary.
Last year, we coordinated a diocesan wide
"Offering of Scarves" for the clients of Trinity's Soup Kitchen. This year, thanks to the generosity of the people of the diocese of Missouri and their nimble fingers, we will be distributing hats at the post Christmas meal. You can see some of the hats on display at the 2009 diocesan convention in Cape Girardeau.
Saint Mark's has started a support group for unemployed people which meets on Tuesday mornings at 9 a.m. It offers an opportunity for people to talk about issues of shame and grief and worth which make unemployment doubly hard. The program is known as "Transition Cafe." It is open to people of all faiths and people of none. Coffee is on!
Our newest community program is the development of a community garden along to the east of the church itself (bounded by the church, the Proehl Center (old rectory) and the alley). We are offering raised beds for anyone in the area who will make a commitment to caring for their bed and the common areas around it. For more details, see our Community Garden Page.
